AFRICA/KENYA - The price of food remains too high, in spite of government aid; 10 million Kenyans at risk for hunger

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – The food emergency continues in Kenya, where one third of the population, 10 million people, is at risk for going hungry. Among these, 1.5 million are children and 2.5 million are people suffering from AIDS.
The government has begun a program for food distribution among the population at risk, however it has had non-satisfactory results. The cost of food continues to rise and the government aid program has not been able to meet the needs of the population, creating a strong disproportion in the distribution of aid. According to the local press, low-cost flour is only available in some areas of Nairobi and in the eastern provinces, while those living in the northeast, in the Rift Valley, and in the central provinces are facing food shortage.
The government had promised that the low-cost flour would be available to everyone by last month. The local authorities have announced an incoming shipment of 2 million sacks of corn and cereals, in addition to the 1.5 million already recently imported, which have reached Kenya and are awaiting distribution. The government has also given permission to the private sector to import another 3 million sacks of cereals.
In spite of these provisions, however, the children of the various towns of Central Baringo and North Baringo, in the Rift Valley, are no longer attending school due to the lack of food.
According to local authorities, over 40% of the inhabitants of Central Baringo are struggling with hunger. In North Baringo, the situation is even worse, as over 70% of the population is at risk for hunger. In these areas, entire families are having to nourish themselves on wild herbs alone.
The food crisis is caused by the climate, but also by the speculation carried out by intermediaries who purchase the crops from farmers at a low price, do not place it immediately on the market (so the prices can rise), and later sell it at the “right moment.” This speculation has been severely criticized by the Bishops (see Fides 26/11/2008). (LM) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2009)